Accelerated Nursing Masters Programs | RN-BSN-MSN Degrees

Accelerated Nursing Masters programs consolidate different levels of nursing education into a faster-track so that currently working nurses have the opportunity to keep their jobs while they study. The master's degree in nursing is the core educational requirement for several specializations, making accelerated RN masters programs enticing for nurses who aspire to fine-tune their professional careers, potentially move up the ladder or be in a position that earns a higher salary.

Accelerated Nursing Masters Programs Overview

There are a variety of Accelerated Nursing masters programs to choose from. Often, these programs are referred to as Accelerated RN programs because although they are licensed, RNs usually have one of three education paths: a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma from an approved nursing program. While Registered nurses are in demand, the demand for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses is much higher. This makes earning an accelerated nursing master degree quite motivating!

FUN FACT: Employment of APRNs is projected to grow 31% from 2014 to 2024, compared to 16% for RNs.

The prerequisites for an accelerated nursing masters degree program require a current RN license, a Master's in Nursing degree requires current enrollment in BSN program. Students should check with the nursing graduate school they seek to attend to ensure that they have met all the requisite admissions requirements.

What Types of Accelerated Nursing Masters Programs Are There?

RN-APRN: Some accelerated masters in nursing programs are designed to provide a fast track for a Registered nurse (RN) to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Students interested in earning a BSN and MSN may typically enroll in this accelerated program, which allows students to earn a BSN and then immediately begin their MSN course work. This type of program is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in other disciplines, although they typically have a background in chemistry, biology, microbiology, and social sciences.

BSN-MSN: Some accelerated masters in nursing programs are designed to provide a fast track for students who have a their Bachelor’s of science in Nursing and want to earn their Masters of Science in Nursing. These BSN-MSN programs can often be completed in 5 semesters.

RN-BSN-MSN: Some accelerated masters in nursing programs are designed to provide a fast track to help working nurses go from RN-BSN-MSN in one continuous course of study.

Choosing an Accelerated Nursing Masters Program: Online or On-Campus

Some nursing graduate schools offer both on campus and online accelerated Nursing Masters Programs. In this respect, if the school you always dreamt of attending is too far geographically, or your schedule doesn’t permit the time to commute, pursuing an Online accelerated master’s degree in nursing may be a fantastic option. Conversely, if you do live close to a great program, it may be very convenient for you to attend classes on-site and benefit from the hands-on learning. If you are ready to initiate a search, you can set your parameters by these two program formats.

Finding an accredited and accelerated nursing masters programs by state, popular city or even country is something that GradSchools.com can also help you with. Location search is a great way to narrow down your options. Some of the various listings you may find include: RN-BSN-MSN – Clinical Nurse Leader, RN to MS in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing-Associates Track.

Potential Curriculum in an Accelerated Nursing Masters Program

Accelerated master's degree programs in nursing are intended for students who have career aspirations beyond a BSN. Many Accelerated nursing masters programs are designed for registered nurses who are currently enrolled in BSN programs since they are able to take some courses that satisfy the requirements for both programs. MSN programs commonly require students to choose a concentration area, such as nurse educator, nurse administration, nurse informatics or nurse practitioner. All tracks include clinical practice as part of their training.

Courses in an accelerated Masters in nursing degree will likely depend on the specialty track a student chooses.

Below are some course topics a student might encounter in an accelerated MSN program:

Advanced nursing practice

Advanced physiology

Advanced pathophysiology

Health information management

Nursing leadership

Nursing ethics

Global health care

Nurse education

Potential Career Paths For Graduates

Earning an Accelerated Nursing Masters degree not only supports a wide variety of potential careers in nursing, but also supports doctoral study, which in itself, can open other doors. Although the need for nurses is high, demand for each nursing specialty is variable. For instance employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 35% compared to nurse midwives, 25%, and nurse anesthetists 19% between 2014 and 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Ready to Search For an Accelerated Nursing Masters Program?

Master's degree programs in Nursing allow students to prepare for leadership and advance practice nursing roles, such as nurse practitioner, nurse midwife or nurse anesthetists. If you are ready to move beyond your current education level but want to expedite the process, an Accelerated Nursing Masters Program has various options that might help you attain your goals sooner rather than later!

Loyola University New Orleans Online

The online RN-MSN Bridge - Nursing Leadership is a program for nurses with a non-nursing bachelor's degree and has a deep focuses on leadership strategies. The Bridge element is only one semester long making it one of the shortest bridge to MSN p...

Grand Canyon University

Kaplan University

If you are an RN and your career goals require earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), consider the Accelerated MSN option. The Accelerated MSN option offers associate’s- or diploma-level nurses...

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